Disruptive Photonics innovator Lightmatter achieves record 1.6 Tbps per fiber to accelerate AI Optical Interconnect
The strategic collaboration combines Qualcomm's high-performance connectivity with Lightmatter's photonic engine to achieve an 8X bandwidth-density advantage
Lightmatter, the leader in photonic (super)computing, today announced a historic milestone in AI interconnect performance: the successful sampling of Passage™ Co-Packaged Optics (CPO) chiplet, demonstrating a record-breaking 1.6 Tbps throughput per fiber. By leveraging a 16-wavelength DWDM (dense wavelength division multiplexing) architecture at 112G per SerDes lane, this platform provides up to 8X more bandwidth per fiber than existing Near-Packaged Optics (NPO) and CPO solutions.
This integration of Lightmatter's industry-leading Passage photonic engine with Qualcomm Technologies’ advanced 112G PAM4 optical SerDes chiplet creates the first photonic interconnect architecture to reach this unprecedented bandwidth density. The result is a silicon-proven, high-volume ready technology built for hyperscaler deployment that directly addresses the interconnect bottleneck limiting frontier AI model scaling. As generative AI clusters grow, this architecture reduces power consumption over existing interconnect technologies while enabling both scale-up and scale-out connectivity for next-generation XPUs and switches.
Building on the initiative established with Alphawave Semi—now part of Qualcomm Technologies—this collaboration sets a new industry standard for optical bandwidth density and power efficiency, advancing next‑generation AI infrastructure performance. By maximizing throughput per fiber, this architecture sharply increases system throughput while reducing the fiber count required in the data center, streamlining cable management and lowering optical infrastructure costs. The results demonstrate that Passage L‑Series photonic engines are on track to deliver 100 Tbps and beyond for next‑generation XPUs and switches, with industry‑leading power efficiency.
First Edgeless I/O 3D Co-Packaged Optics
Passage™ L200 eliminates the shoreline bottleneck. By stacking the photonic engine with the electronic IC, we deliver 32-64 Tbps of optical I/O per chip—enabling bandwidth densities 5-10x greater than conventional solutions.
“The successful validation of our 112G/106G PAM4 connectivity technology within the Passage L-Series CPO architecture is a critical step forward for the industry," said Tony Pialis, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. "As generative AI models grow in size and complexity, they demand a fundamental shift in data movement. Our strategic work with Lightmatter meets this challenge head-on by providing a clear path to 100 Tbps of total I/O per package. We are focused on delivering the best-in-class power efficiency and throughput required to build the world’s most advanced AI superclusters."
"By combining Qualcomm Technologies’ industry-leading 112Gbps SerDes with our Passage L-Series technology, we have achieved a record-breaking 1.6 Tbps per fiber," said Nick Harris, Ph.D., Founder and CEO of Lightmatter. "This milestone proves that our photonic engines are delivering the massive throughput and power efficiency that hyperscale data centers demand today to overcome the physical limitations of traditional copper and legacy interconnects. We are providing a validated interconnect foundation that moves the industry beyond the levels of existing performance and into high-volume, high-performance CPO for the AI era."
"The industry has reached a point where incremental bandwidth density improvements are insufficient to keep pace with the growth in AI cluster size,” said Vlad Kozlov, Founder and CEO of LightCounting. “By delivering 1.6 Tbps per fiber through a 16-wavelength DWDM architecture, this collaboration between Lightmatter and Qualcomm Technologies represents a significant advancement in addressing fiber cabling and physical space constraints of data center infrastructure. Moving toward a 100 Tbps per-package I/O threshold is a key milestone for the ecosystem in the development of next-generation XPUs and switches."
These record-breaking Passage L-Series photonic interconnects are available through Passage Evaluation Kits for lead customer testing.
Lightmatter will showcase its latest innovations at the Optical Fiber Communication conference in Los Angeles, from March 15-19, 2026, in booth 4817. Qualcomm Technologies' Retimer DSP will be featured at booth 2100 at the event. For more information, please visit https://lightmatter.co/event/ofc-2026/.
About Lightmatter
Lightmatter is leading the revolution in AI data center infrastructure, enabling the next giant leaps in human progress. The company’s groundbreaking Passage™ platform—the world’s first 3D-stacked silicon photonics engine—and Guide® VLSP™—the industry's leading high-bandwidth light engine—connect thousands to millions of processors. Designed to eliminate critical data bottlenecks, Lightmatter’s technology delivers unprecedented bandwidth density and energy efficiency for the most advanced AI and high-performance computing workloads, fundamentally redefining the architecture of next-generation AI infrastructure.
Lightmatter, Passage, Guide and VLSP are trademarks of Lightmatter, Inc. Qualcomm branded products are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. Qualcomm is a trademark or registered trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated. Any other trademarks or registered trademarks mentioned in this release are the property of their respective owners.
Contacts
Media Contact:
Lightmatter
Katie Maller
press@lightmatter.co
Upfort AI partners with Markel (NYSE: MKL) to enhance protection for U.S. cyber policyholders
Markel, the insurance operations within Markel Group Inc. (NYSE: MKL), announced a new collaboration with Upfort to provide eligible U.S. cyber policyholders with an expanded suite of tools to help them safeguard their businesses and help reduce the risk of cyberattacks.
Upfort Shield, a multi-layer cyber defense platform, is now available to Markel eligible cyber policyholders, providing AI-powered, automated protection against common cyber threats. Policyholders can also gain access to an easy-to-deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solution that uses behavioral analytics to help reduce the chance of a breach. Service availability and pricing may vary.
"Markel's relationship with Upfort helps strengthen our 360-degree approach to cyber insurance protection and ensures we are there for our clients before, during and after a cyber incident," said Paul Melone, Executive Underwriting Officer, Professional Liability at Markel. "Providing businesses with tools that help them predict, prevent and recover from threats empowers them to stay resilient and confident in an increasingly complex digital environment."
"This collaboration aligns with Markel's long-term cyber strategy to provide innovative insurance solutions for middle-market businesses," said Raphael Da Costa, Senior Director, U.S. Cyber and Tech at Markel. "It allows us to broaden our appetite, helping our policyholders strengthen their risk prevention, and position ourselves to deliver customized cyber coverage as the market continues to mature."
With capabilities ranging from advanced email protection to continuous monitoring and employee training, Upfort equips businesses with employee training, EDR and practical, easy-to-use tools that help strengthen resilience while allowing them to stay focused on running and growing their operations.
"By deploying the full Upfort Shield platform, Markel is adopting a proven cybersecurity solution with a multi-year track record of drastically reducing claim frequency," said Josh Riley, Co-Founder of Upfort. "This collaboration can deliver market-leading value to policyholders to help prevent cyberattacks while also equipping Markel with the actionable intelligence needed to lead the next era of data-driven underwriting."
Click here to learn more about Upfort's capabilities.
About Markel Insurance
We are Markel Insurance, a leading global specialty insurer with a truly people-first approach. As the insurance operations within the Markel Group Inc. (NYSE: MKL), we leverage a broad array of capabilities and expertise to create intelligent solutions for the most complex specialty insurance needs. However, it is our people—and the deep, valued relationships they develop with colleagues, brokers and clients—that differentiates us worldwide.
About Upfort
Upfort is a leading cybersecurity platform focused on closing the protection gap through AI-powered defense and intelligent automation. By leveraging proprietary threat intelligence and insurance claims data, its advanced behavioral models are designed to stop high-impact attacks that bypass traditional controls. Upfort equips organizations of all sizes with the essential layers of cyber defense proven to prevent loss.
Tech pioneer Jerry Hunter joins Lambda Super Intelligence Cloud as Vice Chairman, Compute Delivery and Special Advisor to the Board
Former AWS Infrastructure Leader and Snap COO Brings 30 Years of Hyperscale Expertise to Accelerate Lambda's Growth
Superintelligence Cloud, Lambda AI continues to build thier leadership with the appointment of Jerry Hunter as Vice Chairman, Compute Delivery and Special Advisor to the Board. In this new role, Hunter will guide Lambda’s long-term infrastructure strategy and support the company’s efforts to deploy and operate large-scale AI factories.
Hunter's career includes over a decade at Sun Microsystems during the dawn of networked computing. At Amazon, he helped build AWS’s global data center organization from the ground up, shaping the foundation that supports today’s internet. Most recently, as Chief Operating Officer at Snap, he led global teams to scale the platform to billions in revenue. Jerry’s experience building hyperscale infrastructure for the internet and mobile web is now putting Lambda at the forefront of AI infrastructure build.
"Jerry was critical to the success of some of the largest data center projects in the world," said Stephen Balaban, co-founder and CEO of Lambda. “I’m excited to work with Jerry to build the supercomputing infrastructure that powers AI.”
Hunter's appointment comes as Lambda experiences rapid growth driven by accelerating demand for AI compute. His experience building and operating world-class systems at AWS and Snap strengthens Lambda’s ability to deliver on-time, industrial scale infrastructure for our customers.
"Lambda is at an inflection point where operational excellence must match our ambitious growth trajectory," said Hunter. "AI infrastructure is the backbone of the next industrial era, as foundational as highways and electrical grids were in their time. I’ve spent my career building systems at that scale, and I'm excited to help Lambda continue advancing reliable, large-scale infrastructure for the future of compute.”
About Lambda
Lambda, The Superintelligence Cloud, is a leader in AI cloud infrastructure serving tens of thousands of customers.
Founded in 2012 by machine learning engineers published at NeurIPS and ICCV, Lambda builds supercomputers for AI training and inference.
Our customers range from AI researchers to enterprises and hyperscalers.
Lambda's mission is to make compute as ubiquitous as electricity and give everyone the power of superintelligence. One person, one GPU.
Contacts
Media Contact:
pr@lambda.ai
HawkEye 360 wins $75 million space-based electronic warfare program for European Ministry of Defense
HawkEye 360, the global leader in electronic warfare data and analytics, today announced selection by a European Ministry of Defense for an electronic warfare program valued at up to $75 million. The award reflects sustained European investment in space-based electronic warfare capability to support sovereign defense planning and long-term operational awareness.
“This program highlights how European defense organizations are advancing their ability to monitor and assess complex air defense environments independently,” said Andrea Bersan, Vice President of International Business Development and Partnerships at HawkEye 360. “The scale and cadence of this engagement align closely with European requirements for trusted electronic warfare capabilities that integrate into national defense workflows and support sovereign decision-making.”
“This engagement reflects how ministries are scaling their use of space-derived signals intelligence to meet evolving defense requirements,” said Alex Fox, President HawkEye International. “Operational use of commercial electronic warfare capabilities in active conflict environments has demonstrated its value in supporting time-sensitive decision-making, and we are committed to expanding these capabilities across Europe as nations modernize their ISR architectures.”
Under the contract, HawkEye 360 will deliver a subscription to its Air Defense and GPS Interference Monitoring services, enabling the customer to monitor and assess this activity across areas of interest. These collections provide a consistent operational picture that complements existing national capabilities and contributes to broader regional defense awareness.
Media Contact:
Stacey Bruzzese
Director of Communications
Stacey.Bruzzese@he360.com | 603.490.6898
Via Satellite announced Lynk and Omnispace merger among the 10 Hottest Companies in Satellite for 2026
Via Satellite announced Lynk and Omnispace merger among the 10 Hottest Companies in Satellite for 2026.
10 Hottest Companies in Satellite for 2026Via Satellite's annual list of the 10 Hottest Companies in Satellite
Via Satellite’s annual 10 Hottest Companies rounds up 10 “must watch” companies in the satellite industry, from constellations, manufacturing, launch, and more. Via Satellite editors chose the companies on this list based on their expected activity for the year, and a mix of market share, transformational technology, ground-breaking deals, and overall industry excitement.
We're thrilled to see Trajectory portfolio Co Lynk Global recognized for what the combined company would bring together in terms of "valuable assets and experience in the direct-to-device market." Together with Lynk, they are creating what will be the world's most comprehensive, global multi-orbit direct-to-device (D2D) infrastructure and solution -- bridging the gaps for mobile network operators globally.
LYNK/OMNISPACE see the full awards and winners
The pending Lynk and Omnispace merger brings together valuable assets and experience in the direct-to-device market that could see the two companies be much stronger together than they were separately. Both were early leaders in reimagining satellite connectivity’s role in the telco ecosystem. Lynk was the first to demonstrate a text message sent from a satellite in Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) to a mobile phone on Earth in 2020. Similarly, Omnispace CEO Ram Viswanathan set out an early vision of satellite being a larger part of 5G networks in a hybrid future. Despite their early successes, neither company so far has been able to move into wide, operational deployment.
The merger announced in November will bring together Omnispace’s access to S-band spectrum, with Lynk’s experience building and operating satellites and active partnerships with mobile network operators (MNOs) around the world. Omnispace cites its market access footprint as reaching 1 billion people across the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia; while Lynk has relationships with more than 50 MNOs. SES is also coming onboard as a strategic investor, and the combined company will benefit from SES’s relationships with telecom and government customers. And the company has a wider vision than just consumer phones — this type of connectivity could be particularly interesting for commercial and industrial vehicles, and government and utility sectors worldwide. Joining together could be the spark that leads Lynk and Omnispace to greater success in the direct-to-device D2D market.
Securitize and Uniswap Labs collaborate to unlock liquidity options for BlackRock’s BUIDL
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OKX Ventures backs STBL in partnership with Hamilton Lane and Securitize
New integration pairs the efficiencies of Uniswap’s technology with the familiarity of traditional markets, enables near instant liquidity between BUIDL and USDC for investors
Uniswap Labs, the leader in decentralized finance, and Securitize, the leader in tokenizing real-world assets (RWAs), today announced a strategic integration to make BlackRock USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund (BUIDL) shares available to trade via UniswapX technology. This integration will enable onchain trading of BUIDL, both unlocking new liquidity options for BUIDL holders, and marking a significant step in bridging the gap between traditional finance and DeFi.
“Our mission at Labs is simple: make exchanging value cheaper, faster and more accessible,” said Hayden Adams, Uniswap Labs Founder and CEO. “Enabling BUIDL on UniswapX with BlackRock and Securitize supercharges our mission by creating efficient markets, better liquidity, and faster settlement. I’m excited to see what we build together.”
Securitize Markets will facilitate trading for any BUIDL investor who elects to participate through UniswapX’s RFQ framework. The automated system enables participants to identify the most competitive quote from an ecosystem of whitelisted market participants known as subscribers (including Flowdesk, Tokka Labs, and Wintermute), and settles the trade atomically onchain through immutable smart contracts. All investors utilizing the capability are pre-qualified and whitelisted through Securitize.
"This is the unlock we've been working toward: bringing the trust and regulatory standards of traditional finance to the speed and openness for which DeFi is known," said Carlos Domingo, CEO of Securitize. "For the first time, institutions and whitelisted investors can access technology from a leader in the decentralized finance space to trade tokenized real-world assets like BUIDL with self-custody."
With this integration of UniswapX and Securitize, investors now have the option to access available quotes across the market to swap BUIDL bilaterally with available whitelisted subscribers 24/7, 365 days a year.
“This collaboration with Uniswap Labs alongside Securitize is a notable step in the convergence of tokenized assets with decentralized finance. The integration of BUIDL into UniswapX marks a major leap forward in the interoperability of tokenized USD yield funds with stablecoins,” said Robert Mitchnick, Global Head of Digital Assets at BlackRock.
BlackRock has also made a strategic investment within the Uniswap ecosystem.
Disclosure
BUIDL holders are solely responsible for making their own decision to trade on UniswapX and do so at their own risk. BUIDL holders should review the BUIDL Offering Memorandum disclosure regarding UniswapX prior to making a decision to transact in BUIDL shares through UniswapX via Securitize. Uniswap Labs and Securitize are third party service providers in relation to BUIDL. BlackRock is not providing investment advice nor recommending to holders of BUIDL that they should use UniswapX, and BlackRock makes no assurances about the results that will be obtained thereby, the availability or performance of UniswapX, or liquidity and pricing thereon. BlackRock, in accordance with its own objectives, has made an investment within the Uniswap ecosystem. Any existing investment by BlackRock may be discontinued at any time, in accordance with BlackRock’s own objectives, and in connection with which BlackRock and its affiliates undertake no duty to provide notice of any kind to any person. BlackRock and its affiliates do not recommend, endorse, promote, provide advice or solicit investment as to, or make any representations of any kind whatsoever regarding the Uniswap ecosystem or protocol, Uniswap Labs, Uniswap Foundation, Uniswap DUNI, and/or UNI tokens to (or from) any person and have no responsibility or duty, and disclaim any and all liability, to any person in connection therewith.
About Uniswap Labs:
Uniswap Labs is a core contributor to the Uniswap Protocol – the world’s largest DEX, which has processed over $4 trillion in volume. Uniswap Labs also builds products that help users access the protocol, including the Uniswap Web App, Wallet, and Trading API. In addition, Uniswap Labs is the primary technical provider for Unichain, a DeFi-native Ethereum Layer 2 designed to be the home for liquidity across chains.
About Securitize:
Securitize, the world’s leader in tokenizing real-world assets with $4B+ AUM (as of November 2025), is bringing the world onchain through tokenized funds in partnership with top-tier asset managers, such as Apollo, BlackRock, BNY, Hamilton Lane, KKR, VanEck and others. In the U.S., Securitize operates as a SEC-registered broker dealer, SEC-registered transfer agent, fund administrator, and operator of a SEC-regulated Alternative Trading System (ATS). In Europe, Securitize is fully authorized as an Investment Firm and a Trading & Settlement System (TSS) under the EU DLT Pilot Regime, making it the only company licensed to operate regulated digital-securities infrastructure across both the U.S. and EU. Securitize has also been recognized as a 2025 Forbes Top 50 Fintech company.
For more information, please visit:
Website | X/Twitter | LinkedIn
About BlackRock:
BlackRock’s purpose is to help more and more people experience financial well-being. As a fiduciary to our clients and a leading financial technology provider, we help millions of people build savings that serve them throughout their lives by making investing easier and more affordable. For additional information on BlackRock, please visit www.blackrock.com/corporate
Contacts
Bridgett Frey
bridgett-frey@uniswap.org
Tom Murphy
tom.murphy@securitize.io
Grace Emery
Grace.Emery@blackrock.com
Humanoid robotics innovator Apptronik closes $935 Million Series A at $5 Billion valuation
Apptronik is a premier robotics company dedicated to building the next generation of general-purpose humanoid robots designed to work alongside humans. Its flagship humanoid, Apollo, represents a breakthrough in versatile robotics, featuring a human-centric design and an adaptable software stack that allows it to perform diverse functions—from logistics and manufacturing to retail—with the precision and safety required for industrial environments.
Repeat investors including B Capital, Google, Mercedes-Benz and PEAK6, alongside new investors including AT&T Ventures, John Deere and QIA, back Apptronik to scale production and deployment of Apollo™ humanoid robots
AI-powered robotics company Apptronik today announced a $520 million Series A-X funding round, with participation from existing investors including B Capital, Google, Mercedes-Benz and PEAK6, and new investors including AT&T Ventures, John Deere and Qatar Investment Authority (QIA). The Series A-X extension round follows a $415 million oversubscribed initial Series A raise in 2025, bringing Apptronik’s total Series A to more than $935 million and total capital raised to nearly $1 billion. After the initial Series A announcement, Apptronik continued to receive substantial inbound investor interest, leading the company to open the new extension of its Series A at a 3x multiple of the Series A valuation, underscoring strong investor confidence in Apptronik’s vision for AI-powered robots that support people in every facet of life.
With this fresh capital, Apptronik will ramp up production of its award-winning humanoid robot, Apollo™, and expand its global network of commercial and pilot deployments. The investment will accelerate time to market and enable Apptronik to invest in projects that are needed to solve the use cases of its large number of retail, manufacturing, and logistics customers, including building state-of-the-art facilities for robot training and data collection. The funding will also fuel continued innovation in the company’s pioneering human-centered robot design, paving the way for its highly anticipated new robot set to debut in 2026.
Apptronik has inked partnerships with some of the largest brands in the world, including Mercedes-Benz, GXO Logistics, and Jabil. Apptronik also has an industry-leading strategic partnership with Google DeepMind to build the next generation of humanoid robots, powered by Gemini Robotics.
“Today’s investment is a strong vote of confidence in our mission to deliver humanoid robots that are designed to work alongside humans, not just as tools but as trusted collaborators,” said Jeff Cardenas, co-founder and CEO of Apptronik. “With the backing of our longstanding investors and strategic partners, we’re poised to unveil the newest version of Apollo and maximize the impact of embodied AI across industries. Together, we’re transforming work flows, reimagining factory floors, and writing a new chapter for next-generation humanoid robots that are designed and built to drive meaningful societal progress.”
“Apptronik is setting the standard in embodied AI at scale,” said Howard Morgan, Chair and General Partner of B Capital. “At this pivotal moment, we’re proud to deepen our support as the team accelerates production and real-world deployment of AI-powered collaborators designed to work alongside people and reshape manufacturing, logistics and other mission-critical industries.”
Apollo is designed to revolutionize human-robot interaction, initially in critical industries like logistics and manufacturing, with future planned expansion into retail, healthcare, and eventually, the home. Apollo takes on physically demanding work and labor-intensive operational processes in manufacturing and logistics – working alongside human counterparts to transport components, sort, and kit, among other tasks.
About Apptronik
Apptronik is a human-centered robotics company developing AI-powered robots to support humanity in every facet of life. Our humanoid robot, Apollo, is designed to collaborate thoughtfully with humans—initially in critical industries such as manufacturing and logistics, with future applications in healthcare, the home, and beyond. Apollo is the culmination of nearly a decade of development, drawing on Apptronik’s extensive work on 15 previous robots, including NASA’s Valkyrie robot. Apptronik started out of the Human Centered Robotics Lab at the University of Texas at Austin and has nearly 300 employees. Learn more at apptronik.com.
https://youtube.com/shorts/dE0hSJ-E5ec?si=LgNub_gANPEGZQsr
Media Contact
Liz Clinkenbeard
Aerospace innovator Natilus raises $28 Million Series A to commercialize hyper efficient blended wing aircraft
Aerospace is about to change forever with Natilus disruptive aerospace innovation, and the launch of their blended wing passenger and cargo aircraft. We are thrilled to be along for this remarkable journey that signals a new dawn for the way we travel and create less impact on our planet and climate. The determination and tenacity of the team has been remarkable to get Natilus to the inflection point.
- Former Boeing Military Aircraft and Phantom Works exec joins Board of Directors to advance rapid prototyping and commercialization
- New capital will support the first full-scale flight of KONA, a next-generation regional freighter for commercial and defense logistics
- Its passenger aircraft, HORIZON EVO, will enter commercial service in the early 2030s
Natilus, a U.S.-based aerospace manufacturer of blended-wing aircraft, today announced it has secured $28 million in Series A financing. The financing was led by Draper Associates and includes strategic investors with focuses on aerospace, defense, and global freight logistics including: Type One Ventures, The Veterans Fund, and Flexport. Also participating are new investors New Vista Capital, Soma Capital, Liquid 2 VC, VU Venture Partners, and Wave FX.
Natilus has attracted broad buy-in across defense, air freight and commercial aviation markets for the game changing economics that its blended-wing-body platform enables. Leveraging improved aerodynamics, capacity, and efficiency, its family of blended-wing aircraft cut fuel usage by 30% and carbon emissions and operational costs by 50%. This latest funding will allow Natilus to complete manufacturing of its first full-scale prototype of regional cargo plane KONA, which is expected to fly in the next 24 months. Natilus will also further invest in the development of its second aircraft, HORIZON EVO, a 200+-passenger aircraft intended to compete with the Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A321-neo. Today, Natilus also debuted its transition from a single-deck to a dual-deck aircraft, implementing modifications to the profile and interior that substantially enhance passenger experience and safety.
Global aircraft demand has outpaced the combined production capabilities of Boeing and Airbus – leaving a shortfall of 15,000 planes that must be met over the next 20 years to satisfy global need. As a result, the market is hungry for a new manufacturing entrant that can navigate supply chain constraints and deliver a superior aircraft.
In the last 12 months, Natilus has made significant progress on its IP family and national manufacturing efforts. In July, it was awarded a patent for KONA's diamond-shaped cargo bay and in March, it initiated the launch of its first domestic manufacturing site search to produce KONA. Currently, Natilus's commercial product order book stands at 570+ aircraft, with reservations from major players like SpiceJet, Nolinor Aviation, Flexport, and Ameriflight – and is valued at $24 billion.
In addition to strong demand from domestic and global carriers, Natilus's optionally-piloted KONA is gaining interest for its potential defense applications. With its 3.8 ton payload capacity and ability to land on shorter, gravel runways, KONA can provide intra-theater lift and transport cargo to remote locations more efficiently than ever before. The cargo freighter can support Agile Combat Employment (ACE) and logistics resupply in highly contested and austere regions such as the Indo-Pacific. Natilus has engaged in conversations with the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, and the Department of Defense, which see value in KONA.
"The aviation market is ripe for a new aircraft manufacturing entrant," said Tim Draper, Founding Partner of Draper Associates. "Natilus's innovative and technology-driven approach to developing blended wing aircraft has opened the doors for air freight and passenger airlines alike to embrace these new planes."
Natilus has derisked the technology and expedited widespread commercial adoption by designing its planes to use existing engine technology and include vertical tails for control and stabilization. Natilus has designed its family of aircraft to be compatible with existing gate operations and airport infrastructure to maintain interoperability.
Meanwhile, Natilus is actively pursuing FAA Part 23, Amendment 64 certification for KONA and is determining a location for its 250,000 square feet manufacturing site to build 60 KONA per year. The company is on track to deliver the first KONA later this decade and the first HORIZON EVO in the early 2030s.
Natilus welcomes world-class aviation veteran and former Boeing executive, Kory Mathews, to the Natilus Board of Directors. During his tenure at Boeing, where he held positions as the VP of Phantom Works and VP and Chief Engineer of Boeing Military Aircraft, Kory led advanced aircraft design and rapid prototyping. He will leverage his experience there and now, as a Senior Partner at New Vista Capital, to provide valuable OEM and defense perspectives to the company.
"We're not just building aircraft. We're reshaping the future of aviation beyond the limitations of the tube-and-wing airframe to fundamentally transform how we transport goods and people," said Aleksey Matyushev, Co-Founder and CEO of Natilus. "With this latest funding and newest personnel additions, we are strongly positioned to bring our family of blended-wing aircraft to market, disrupting the Boeing-Airbus duopoly and bringing much-needed innovation to the aviation industry."
About Natilus
Natilus is a U.S.-based company developing a family of hyper-efficient blended-wing-body (BWB) aircraft designed to transport people and cargo more sustainably and efficiently than ever before. With over 570+ aircraft pre-orders valued at $24 billion, Natilus is commercializing its BWB aircraft that unlock improved aviation economics – reducing fuel consumption by 30% and operational costs by 50% while increasing payload capacity by 40%. Founded in 2016, the Natilus team is composed of innovators from Boeing, General Atomics, Northrop Grumman, Skunkworks, SpaceX, and Piper Aircraft. Learn more at natilus.co.
Natilus aerospace unveils new hyper efficient HORIZON EVO blended wing aircraft as it readies for FAA Certification and commercial fleet integration
- HORIZON EVO fits seamlessly into existing airport infrastructure and operations
- Design includes new dual-deck cabin, improved egress, and faster turnaround times
- Critical feedback from FAA and carrier customers addresses certification requirements
Natilus, a U.S. aerospace manufacturer of blended-wing-body aircraft (BWB), today reached a critical milestone as it readies its passenger plane, HORIZON EVO, for commercial certification and fleet integration. Based on key feedback from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and its base of global carrier customers, the HORIZON EVO design has evolved from a single-deck to a dual-deck aircraft. These enhancements offer more practicality in design, build, and operations – while improving overall passenger experience and safety. HORIZON EVO will enter commercial service in the early 2030s.
"In our ongoing conversations with the FAA and customers, there's real excitement around what our new airframe brings, not only in terms of fuel economics, but in addressing some of the recent and real pain points happening in aviation today around safety, passenger experience, and plane shortages," said Aleksey Matyushev, Co-Founder and CEO of Natilus. "These airline-validated insights really drove the design enhancements around dual-deck practicality, egress certifiability, and turnaround times and put us on a clear path to commercial certification."
Natilus's vision for the commercial-ready HORIZON EVO is centered on three key design pillars which maintain the same interoperability with existing airport ground infrastructure, while implementing modifications to the profile and interior that substantially enhance passenger experience and safety.
Key Design Pillars:
- Dual-Deck with a Focus on Safety: Mirroring the dual-deck layout of existing narrowbodies, HORIZON EVO offers both a spacious upper deck cabin for passengers as well as lower deck for standard cargo containers, pressurization advancements for comfort, and improved access to emergency exit paths..
- More Overhead Storage Space and Windows Throughout the Cabin: Addressing a rising pain point for carriers, HORIZON EVO's dual-deck design offers more overhead storage space for passengers. The spacious upper deck also reflects customer-driven desire for the coveted window seat with an increase in windows, novel for the BWB.
- Improved Turnaround Times & Seamless Infrastructure Interoperability: The HORIZON EVO design maintains its purpose-built fit with existing passenger and cargo ground infrastructure and now includes the ability to carry standard air-freight containers in its lower deck. To ease the burden of loading, there will be multiple aisles in the premium and economy cabins.
Key Specifications:
- Cruise Mach: 0.78+
- Cruise Altitude: 35,000 ft.
- Fuel Type: Jet A or SAF
- Engine Type: PW 1500F Geared Turbofans or CFM LEAP
- Flight Deck: All Glass Fly-by-Wire
- Aircraft Span: 118 ft.
- Aircraft Length: 110 ft.
- Gate Class: C4
- PAX Count: 150 Three Class, 200 Two Class, 250 Single Class
- Economy Layout: 4 x 3 seats
- Cabin: Height: 7 ft., Width: 26 ft.
- Lower Deck Height: 4 ft., Lower Deck Width: 18 ft.
- Exits: 8
- Upper Deck Cargo Volume: 8,500 cubic ft.
- Lower Deck Cargo Volume: 2,600 cubic ft.
- Upper Deck Cargo Containers: 16 AAA (88x125 base)
- Lower Deck: 12 LD3-45 containers
"The commercial aviation industry is facing a fast-approaching reckoning in which demand for new airplanes far exceeds current production capacity, with global fleets forecasted to double over the next 20 years, driving the need for more than 40,000 airplane deliveries. It's a crucial moment for innovation that solves the economics for carriers, the experience for passengers, and the environmental impact for aviation," said Dennis Muilenburg, CEO of New Vista Capital and former Chairman & CEO of The Boeing Company. "We believe HORIZON EVO presents a highly-attractive transformative design at the leading-edge of that solution."
About Natilus
Natilus is a U.S.-based company developing a family of hyper-efficient blended-wing-body (BWB) aircraft designed to transport people and cargo more sustainably and efficiently than ever before. With over 570+ aircraft pre-orders valued at $24 billion, Natilus is commercializing its BWB aircraft that unlock improved aviation economics – reducing fuel consumption by 30% and operational costs by 50% while increasing payload capacity by 40%. Founded in 2016, the Natilus team is composed of innovators from General Atomics, Northrop Grumman, Skunkworks, SpaceX, and Piper Aircraft. Learn more at natilus.co.
Ecommerce infrastructure leader Syncware acquired MAPP Trap to expand wholesale automation capabilities
We're excited to share that Syncware is merging with MAPP Trap as we work toward creating the most comprehensive platform for wholesale commerce automation. This alliance brings together our leading wholesale automation platform with MAPP Trap's proven MAP compliance and brand protection capabilities, giving consumer product brands the tools they need to thrive in today's complex retail landscape.
With e-commerce projected to hit $6.8 trillion in 2025 and products appearing across millions of storefronts, brands need more than visibility. They need real enforcement. That's exactly what this combination delivers.
Welcome to the syncware family, Ron Solomon and the entire MAPP Trap team!
Syncware, the leading automation platform for wholesale order operations, today announced a merger with MAPP Trap, an enterprise SaaS solution that monitors and enforces Minimum Advertised Price (MAP) compliance and Unauthorized Reseller removals across e-commerce channels.
The alliance strengthens Syncware's mission to be the operating system of wholesale commerce by expanding its product suite to include critical brand protection and pricing enforcement capabilities. This combination enables Syncware to offer brands a more comprehensive platform for managing the complexities of b2b commerce.
"The explosion of online retailers has created unprecedented challenges for brands trying to protect their margins and maintain brand integrity," said Gregg Greenberg, CEO of Syncware. "MAPP Trap's proven enforcement and unauthorized reseller removal capabilities, combined with Syncware’s automation platform, will provide brands with more tools for managing their wholesale operations."
Addressing a Critical Market Need
With e-commerce sales projected to reach $6.8 trillion globally in 2025 and online retail representing over 16% of total U.S. retail sales, brands face an increasingly fragmented retail ecosystem. Products now appear across millions of e-commerce storefronts spanning marketplaces like Amazon, Walmart, eBay, Shopify, and independent direct-to-consumer sites, often on hundreds or thousands of unauthorized channels.
This proliferation has made automated MAP monitoring and enforcement essential for brands seeking to protect margins, maintain brand equity, and preserve critical retailer relationships.
Proven Platform with Enterprise Customers
Founded in 2014 by Ron Solomon, MAPP Trap serves more than 150 brands spanning multiple industries, with particular strengths in pet care, health and nutrition, outdoor, children’s products, and industrial products. The company's customer roster includes household names such as Atomic, Hanes, Land O' Lakes, Spinmaster, Ingersoll Rand, and Wahl Clipper.
The platform monitors millions of sellers and SKUs daily, providing real-time price monitoring, seller identification, and automated enforcement workflows that go beyond simple alerts to deliver actual compliance outcomes.
"When I founded MAPP Trap in 2014, it was born out of a personal need I experienced firsthand with my toy company, Swingset Press, the frustration of watching brand equity erode due to unauthorized sellers and MAP violations," said Ron Solomon, Founder of MAPP Trap. "Over the past decade, we've built a platform and a team that brands trust as business-critical. Joining forces with Syncware allows us to deliver even greater value to the brands we serve while expanding to new verticals and audiences."
Key Platform Capabilities
MAPP Trap's technology delivers:
- Comprehensive Monitoring: Product and online seller scanning across marketplaces and domains
- Seller Intelligence: Advanced algorithms and investigative techniques to identify and "unmask" sellers behind obscure storefronts
- True Enforcement: Automated communication workflows, multi-step escalation, and "white glove" enforcement services that drive real compliance outcomes
Leadership and Customer Continuity
MAPP Trap will continue to operate as an independent business unit ensuring seamless continuity of service for all customers. As such, MAPP Trap will retain its leadership and dedicated staff, with Ron Solomon continuing to lead the business and reporting to Gregg Greenberg, CEO of the combined companies. The MAPP Trap platform will maintain its current capabilities and customer experience, with no planned changes to the technology or service delivery that customers rely on today.
About MAPP Trap
MAPP Trap is a SaaS platform focused on online brand protection, MAP enforcement, and unauthorized seller monitoring across e-commerce channels. Founded in 2014, the company helps brands protect their margins, maintain brand integrity, and preserve retailer relationships through automated monitoring and enforcement.
For more information, visit www.mapptrap.com
Media Contact:
Bill Robb
Head of Marketing and Ecosystem
Syncware